Our Teachers
Teacher Danielle
My name is Danielle and I use she/her pronouns. I feel honored to be a part of the Burien Co-Op community. I was introduced to BCP in 2016 as a nanny to an attending family. I have wanted to be a part of BCP ever since! The joy, growth and learning that happens through play, tinkering and friendship is magical. I feel privileged to be a part of this unique and special community.
​
I am a cheerful, conscientious, kind, inclusive, gentle, creative and caring individual. I enjoy using art, music and general goofiness to find each individual’s voice and method of
expression. I’m emotionally supportive and adaptable, outgoing and friendly.
​
My husband Tori and I share our home with 3 large dogs (a Saint Bernard named Frank, a Mastiff named Axl, and an adorable mutt named Nala), 3 cats (George, Wilbur, and Bubbles), and 1 Sun Conure named Izzy. I spend my time outside of the class hiking, stand-up paddle boarding, camping (any excuse to be in nature) and mixed media arts.
​
I graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Oil Painting and Drawing from the University of Washington. I have been a nanny for 10 years, 7 of those were spent with toddlers. I volunteered at Childhaven in the infant room through college. I have been creating environments for children to grow for years.
​
I strive to keep a safe and supportive environment in order for everyone to have fun while learning. Being outside and learning about the natural world around us is important to me.
​
Every tactile, messy, sensory experience gives young minds a flood of information. I wholeheartedly believe in the value of play-based education. Creating a space where there are no wrong ways to learn is integral in my approach. I support child-lead play because they will come up with things we couldn’t imagine. Each child sees the world differently and it is vital to me to learn the individual’s needs. We will build a room that is a “yes” space and we can all grow together.
​
I have been told my dedication and genuine love for children is exemplified by my unique talent for naturally syncing with children’s rhythms through verbal and nonverbal outlets for expressing themselves. Also that I am adept at allowing children to spontaneously transition into art from play! The family I have worked with the longest said: “She celebrates their successes and risk-taking; she delights in their adventures, their drawings, their worlds of pretend, and their accomplishments and developed skills. It is obvious though, in the way she speaks of the other children at BCP and in her interactions with them, that Danielle truly loves ALL children. She celebrates each child’s unique individuality and character. She is a
cheerleader for children, and they feel it.”
I love working with children and am delighted to be brought on as the Toddler teacher! This is a dream come true and I look forward to building relationships with each child that comes
through BCP. This opportunity has me eager to start the year!
Teacher Alyce
Hello everyone! My name is Alyce Deibell, I’m the mother of Bennett (Otters) and Anderson (Fireflies). We joined Burien Co-op last year and absolutely fell in love. I have been an early childhood educator for almost eighteen years, when I read the philosophy of BCP, I was totally mesmerized. We were beyond excited to be a part of something that sounded truly magical.
Over my eighteen years of experience (primarily with children ages 0-3) I’ve worked in a small childcare center, I’ve been a nanny, and I worked for thirteen years at a nonprofit inclusive preschool. Working in an inclusive environment completely changed the way I saw the world. That experience has taught me how each human has their own set of needs, abilities and ambitions that help them succeed in life. I gained a wealth of knowledge working alongside occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, special educators, nutritionists and mental health experts. I’ve been able to incorporate that knowledge into my everyday life and teaching.
My basic teaching philosophy is: this is their world, it’s our job to learn who they are as individuals to help them navigate the world around them. I believe through play and exposure to different experiences there are endless learning opportunities. I’m a notoriously messy teacher, I love sensory experiences and full body art & movement experiences. At the foundation of my teaching is always social and emotional learning. Being a human is hard, I strive to incorporate regulation skills and empathy into my interactions with children.
As a teacher, I always want to make sure the families I work with feel heard and we work as a team to support the children. I love communicating and connecting with families. You are the experts on your children, any information you’re willing to share is helpful. I want to create a safe environment for sharing information to help us maximize care.
Being a teacher brings me so much joy. I can’t wait to get back into a classroom and be a part of such a wonderful community caring for children. I’m so excited for this journey!!!